The summer of 2016 was the best one yet. With one suitcase and my best friend, I made my 25 day European Journey. We left New York and our first stop was the countryside of England. We saw the prehistoric monument, Stonehedge. Our next stop was London. We rode on the London Eye, saw the Big Ben, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, House of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. We met up with the Tour Company, Contiki. We met 50 other individuals from all over the world that will be accompanying us on the bus for our 25 day tour. We hit the road and took a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. We traveled via World War I battlefields in the Valley of the Somme, to Paris. France's national delicacy escargot was next on the list. It tasted a lot like a clam/mussel. We visited Src de Triomphe, Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, Louvre and Eiffel Tower. Next we went to the Beaujolais Wine Region. The beautiful green hills were covered with vineyards. We explored the French countryside with a walk through the vineyards and a picnic in the hills. Next stop was Barcelona. There was plenty of delicious tapas and local seafood, paella. We visited the Sagrada Familia church and Montjuic. Next, we went to the French Rivera, where we learned all about the French perfume industry. We got a taste of the high life in Monaco. Onward to Italy, land of passion! Heading to Renaissance Florence, we stopped by the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. We saw a skillful demonstration of Florentine leather, explored the beautiful art and beauty of Florence.
Our coach tour got us into the thriving atmosphere of Rome. We visited the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Piazza Venezia. I threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, hope I get lucky! We got a tour of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Finished Rome off with an amazing slice of Italian Pizza. Known as the "floating city," Venice was packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals. The gelato was very tasty and I loved the Gondola ride. Next stop was the cultural hub of Vienna, the land of Mozart. Next was the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich-a city that blends traditional Bavarian culture and modern lifestyle. From Munich, we went to Austrian Tyrol. We plunged into white water rafting and took on heights with the tandem paragliding, which had beautiful landscapes. We filled our lungs with clean mountain air with a bike ride through Tyrol's picture perfect scenery, complete with waterfalls and mountain fields. My favorite spot was Switzerland. We took the highest railway station to get to the top of the massive Alps and went ziplining. Our last stop was Amsterdam where we explored the museums and quirky, cool boutiques. I wandered along the canals and experienced Amsterdam's multi-ethnic cuisines. We jumped on the plane home :( However, we happened to have a layover in Dublin Ireland. This trip makes me want to keep traveling!! I will never forget this amazing opportunity to explore the world.
